Southern California -- this just in

Tranquilizer darts fired at bear in La Crescenta

State Fish and Game officials fired two tranquilizer darts at a large black bear in La Crescenta that has captured the fancy of Los Angeles with its frequent visits and cravings for Costco meatballs.

The bear was sighted about 3 a.m. Tuesday in the 2800 block of Manhattan Avenue and reported to Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies. He has been wandering through the residential area for several hours and was contained in a backyard of the 2300 block of Mayfield Avenue, just south of the 210 Freeway.

Rangers arrived and fired a tranquilizer dart at the bear about 7:45 a.m., KTLA News reported. Within a few minutes, he was spotted running in front of the house and away from authorities and reporters who had gathered.

By 8 a.m., authorities had fired a second dart into the bear, who was spotted by overhead helicopter cameras -- still standing, but apparently woozy. Authorities were preparing to fire a third dart at him.

Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Mark Slater said a sheriff's helicopter is keeping track of the bear from above, and there are deputies within a couple of houses on each side of the backyard.

"We just want residents to use caution, stay inside, keep your pets inside and when you do leave for work, get quickly to your car and get out of the area," he added.

Authorities believe it's the same bear that broke into a garage last month and pried open a refrigerator to snack on some frozen meatballs. He had been returning like clockwork on trash day and then was spotted again at 2:50 a.m. Saturday in yards on the 3700 block of Cedarbend Drive and again at 6 a.m. on the 3900 block of Forestglen Drive by a newspaper delivery man.

Residents have expressed concern about the bear in recent weeks, but after the Saturday sighting one resident said she pitied the animal.